Home Office

Police: Stun Guns

Lord Condon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in the review of the publication of Taser data and other use of force by police officers, and whether that review will include an assessment of the use of Tasers on men from ethnic minorities.

Lord Bates: Chief Constable David Shaw’s Use of Force Data Review is expected to report to the Home Secretary later this year. The review will present options for collecting, collating and publishing data on how force including Taser is being used by the police, who it is being used on and what the outcomes are. The Government supports the need for transparent and accurate data on how the police are using force. As with sensitive powers like stop and search, the police use of force warrants proper accountability and transparency.

Ministry of Defence

Aircraft Carriers

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 12 June (HL241), why the portfolio for the officer responsible for delivering Carrier Enabled Panel Projection does not require them to have served at sea and have experience of carrier operations and naval warfare.

Earl Howe: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 12 June 2015 to question HL241.



20150612_QnA_Extract_on_Aircraft_Carriers
(Word Document, 15.7 KB)

Libya: Warships

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 15 June (HL148), whether the frigate committed to the European Union force off Libya is now a part of the Committed Force.

Earl Howe: The UK is contributing HMS Enterprise and HMS Richmond to the second phase of the EU Naval Force Operation in the Central Mediterranean. Neither vessel is in the Committed Force.

Patrol Craft

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) Forth, Medway and Trent, will operate in addition to the current four OPVs.

Earl Howe: The operation of the three new Offshore Patrol Vessels will be subject to the forthcoming Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits

The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 4 February (HL4518), what measures they have taken to ensure that benefit claimants are aware of the availability of Short Term Benefit Advances; and whether they have now implemented the changes to information provision announced in December 2014.

The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 4 February (HL4519), what assessment they have made of the effect of changes to the guidance and promotion of Short Term Benefit Advances.

Lord Freud: DWP has taken steps to raise awareness of Short Term Benefit Advances. Jobcentres have posters and leaflets covering Short Term Benefit Advances and staff have been provided with updated guidance. Information is also available on GOV.UKWe are continuing to monitor the impact of this activity on the number of requests for STBAs.

Housing Benefit

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they expect to save in housing benefit payments as the result of requiring local authorities to reduce the rents of council housing.

Lord Freud: Estimates of the total benefit savings due to the reductions in social rent announced in the 2015 Summer Budget were presented in the associated policy costings publication.The rent reduction will apply to both council housing and housing associations, and the estimated savings include Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.The table below shows the amount of the total benefit savings which relates to Local Authority tenancies. This includes both Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.Estimated reduction in benefit payments to Local Authority tenants, £millions, cash terms2016/172017/182018/192019/202020/21Benefit savings relating to Local Authority tenancies95260460670690

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Research

Baroness Kramer: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been paid to external research and polling companies by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in each month since October 2014, and to which companies payments were made.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Details of research commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. BIS has published its research strategy and details of the monitoring and evaluation of its programmes. Details can be found at the ‘BIS evaluation strategy’ and ‘BIS research strategy’ sections of the GOV.UK website, which are attached.



Evaluation Strategy
(PDF Document, 995.08 KB)




Research Strategy
(PDF Document, 466.02 KB)

Small businesses

Baroness Kramer: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research they have commissioned from external research and polling companies on small business policies in each month since May.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Details of research commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. BIS has published its research strategy and details of the monitoring and evaluation of its programmes. Details can be found at the ‘BIS evaluation strategy’ and ‘BIS research strategy’ sections of the GOV.UK website, which are attached.



Evaluation Strategy
(PDF Document, 995.08 KB)




Research Strategy
(PDF Document, 466.02 KB)